Coffee lectures: From Impressionism to Blast

The emergence of modernism

Lecture / symposium, Member

The arts in Europe underwent a major sea-change between the first Impressionist exhibition in Paris of 1874 and the publication of the first issue of the Vorticist magazine Blast in London in 1914, just before the outbreak of the First World War. As faith in God was undermined by Darwin and Nietzsche, and traditional ways of life were overturned as a result of the Industrial Revolution, the arts gradually moved from representation to abstraction, inaugurating an era of extraordinary vibrancy and experimentation.

Acclaimed writer, scholar and translator Rosamund Bartlett returns to present this four-part lecture series, each one spanning a separate decade to pinpoint the milestones along this revolutionary journey, seeking to show not only how artistic developments arose in response to social and political change but, in the case of World War I, foreshadowed it. The lectures will trace the interconnections between artists, musicians and writers, and between movements, art forms, and cities such as Vienna, Paris, London, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Munich, Prague, Barcelona and Helsinki.

10am Coffee, Domain Theatre foyer10.30am Talk, Domain Theatre

Please note: Dates in Look magazine are incorrect. The dates below are the correct dates for all lectures.

Cancellations: Three full working days (Mon–Fri) notice is required to qualify for a refund. All refunds attract an administration charge of 25% of the ticket price(s) with a minimum charge of $5. With subscription tickets there are no refunds for single sessions, unless a session is cancelled. Not negotiable.